Outdoor furnace ordinance up for final reading at council meeting

Final reading of an ordinance that would add regulation of outdoor wood-burning furnaces to the city code is on the agenda for tonight’s Rolla City Council meeting.

R.D. Hohenfeldt

Final reading of an ordinance that would add regulation of outdoor wood-burning furnaces to the city code is on the agenda for tonight’s Rolla City Council meeting.“The ordinance offered for a final reading this evening would be considered a minimal approach to regulating outdoor furnaces,” Community Development Director John Petersen wrote in his agenda commentary.Petersen said it is “minimal” because, for instance:• It lacks a sunset provision for legal, non-conforming furnaces.• There’s no limit on the months of operation.• Lacking is a definition of “nuisance” as that word relates to outdoor furnaces.• There are no specific enforcement procedures.“A draft maximum approach has been included to help gain perspective for this draft ordinance,” Petersen said.What the minimal draft ordinance will do is force new outdoor furnaces to be located no less than 300 feet from any structure designed for human occupancy.“This proposed standard all but assures that outdoor wood-burning furnaces may only be used on large parcels, which should reduce potential impact,” Petersen wrote. “Additional installation rules would regulate chimney height and provide other clearance limits.”The ordinance is the result of a complaint from Ken and Margaret Hawley about a neighbor’s furnace, which they say fills their house with smoke. They originally asked the council to ban outdoor wood-burning furnaces.Neighbor Jeff Dvorak told the council last month that he has raised the level of the smoke stack on his furnace and is prepared to raise it further to satisfy the Hawleys. In other business or discussion at Tuesday's council meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Rolla City Hall:• Final reading will be heard on an ordinance approving the replat of Lots 24 and 25 of Wedgewood Manor Subdivision.• Final reading of an ordinance approving the resubdivision/consolidation of Lots 11 and 12 of Wild Rose Hill will be heard.• Final reading of an ordinance amending Section 27-106 of the Rolla City Code pertaining to public parking lot permits will be heard.• The council will consider a motion to accept a bid for a 36-horsepower all-wheel drive diesel mower with a 72-inch mower deck.• The council will consider a motion to accept a bid to provide health insurance excess coverage.• Various reports from city departments and commissions will be noted for the record.• The council will hear a presentation about the sixth annual Operation Neighborhood Cleanup set for Friday, Nov. 1, from Rolla Police Sgt. Vince Giacolone.• City Administrator John Butz will give an overview of the plans for the Rolla Animal Shelter. • An executive session to discussion city personnel will be held after the meeting.